Many of us would agree that there's something undeniably sacred about choosing a hair salon. Hair is extremely personal, and there is a great level of trust involved in handing over the creative control of your crowning glory – especially if you’re going for a bold look or a drastic change. For those of us who lean towards more 'unconventional' styles – think dramatic colours, artsy mullets, or the perfect shag – discovering the right hairdresser (let alone one with any space for new clients) can feel as perilous a task as finding a needle in a haystack.
But maybe, you’ve just been waiting to find Dollie & Stella? I know that I certainly was.
I don’t think that I’m overstating it when I say that hair is a religion for me. When I first started experimenting with ‘alternative’ colours and cuts as an angsty adolescent, a passion was unlocked. Even now, as I find myself firmly in my thirties (not sure how that happened, honestly), customising my follicles is a practice of spiritual significance. On a particularly dreary day, getting a cute new fringe has the power to turn around my entire self-esteem. And as apparent grown adults with free will, it is our prerogative to seek a suitable house of worship (i.e. a hair salon) where miracles can happen (i.e. a really cool new hairstyle).
A welcoming Inner West salon with funky decor, Dollie & Stella is a dream destination for anyone looking to change things up. But for salon owner Jo Sadler (who named her salon in honour of her grandmothers), running her business is much more than follicle-deep. Fostering community with clients and other local small businesses alike, Dollie & Stella operates on principles of sustainability, education, and inclusivity – this pastel-hued haven walks the walk when it comes to being an LGBTQIA+ safe space, and takes meaningful steps to make the space accessible for all abilities and neurotypes.
It all might sound a bit ambitious, but for Jo and the salon team, the rewards are tenfold. As she explains: “Our aim is just to provide a bespoke, welcoming hair experience where everyone feels comfortable. We don't believe that hair has a gender, so it's just about giving someone the best haircut for them that makes them happy in a really safe and welcoming environment, whilst using sustainable products and high end brands.”
The sustainable innovations take some delightfully unexpected turns. For example, all of the hair foils used in the salon come from South Australian based company Foil Me – and not only is each piece covered in cute and colourful designs, but they’re made from fully recycled materials, and all the pieces used in the salon are also, in turn, recycled. And the vibrant hair colours? Those are all sustainable too, because apparently unnatural shades don’t necessarily need to be toxic. The futuristic P.O.D colour treatments are a rather cool option – the colour pigment starts as a Berocca-like tablet, and is infused into the hair over at the basins using an eco-friendly showerhead.
But the sustainability doesn’t stop there. Dollie & Stella is also a registered member of the Sustainable Salons initiative and an ambassador for Soilz Alive, which means that all the salon’s hair clippings are diverted from landfill and donated to charities that use your discarded locks for projects like cleaning the oceans, organic soil treatments, and in some cases, to make wigs for people in need.
We don't believe that hair has a gender, so it's just about giving someone the best haircut for them...
Got curls for days? Don’t you worry, Dollie & Stella’s team of hair experts are trained to work with a range of hair textures.
“I always want everyone to leave feeling like they have got the best possible hair they've ever had, and that they leave educated as well,” says Jo. “Like, if they haven't learned something new each time, whether it's about something like their hair health or a product or a styling tip, I don't feel like I've done my job. I want our clients to feel happy and refreshed.”
From the cutting and styling to every other element of the salon experience, the theme of art-meets-innovation carries through. Having a cuppa during your treatment? You’ll be sipping on a handmade mug from Sydney-based ceramicist Voluptuary Ceramics (the same artist behind some of the gorgeously-blobby flower vases dotted around the salon). Coffee beans are sourced from Jo’s favourite local roasters, Deluca, and teas come from local artisanal tea purveyors, T Totaler. Kombucha and snacks are all sorted by The Better Food Distribution Co, which is committed to sourcing wholesome, high quality products from Australian producers. And your drinking glass? That’s a repurposed San Pellegrino bottle that’s been hand cut and sand-blasted at Upcycled Glassware on upcycled machinery in Botany. (The same business is behind the other geometric-looking vases you’ll see, which are 3D-printed from biodegradable materials.)
The interior design of the space is a maximalist daydream, featuring pieces by local artists including Sam Mcaleer (@smackas) and lush greenery from much-loved Newtown business Plant Daddy. That could sound overwhelming to the more minimalist-inclined, but the decidedly-muted colour palette of complementary sorbet hues is deliciously cohesive.
If you live life on the anxious side, perhaps you’ll also be put at ease by the stim toys placed at each cutting station, and Jo has also invested in soundproofing the salon, to eliminate any sensory overload resulting from the rumble of traffic on nearby King Street.
From humble beginnings in Marrickville in 2018 to relocating into the heart of Newtown in 2023, Dollie & Stella has continued to innovate. Book in here, and you’ll find that a statement hairstyle doesn’t mean frying your follices or harming the planet.
Salon pricing: Dollie & Stella’s pricing is fairly standard for what you can expect to spend at a Sydney salon nowadays. Haircuts start at $100-$145 (including washing and styling) and hair colouring starts at $80 for permanent colours, foiling and balayage. If you’re looking for a full transformation, the bestselling packages start at the $500 mark. Find out more and book in at dollieandstella.com.au, and follow @dollieandstella on Instagram.